Troops hunt down Sayyaf rebels

ZAMBOANGA CITY : More Army troops were deployed in the troubled province of Basilan to pursue Abu Sayyaf rebels following a clash that killed two gunmen in Hadji Mohammad Ajul town.

Soldiers clashed with the Abu Sayyaf on Friday and killed two rebels – one of them had been identified as Hakim Entong.

Marine Capt. Ben June Cerbo said the fighting erupted in the town where troops are hunting down at least three Malaysian terrorists.

After the firefight in Hadji Mohammad Ajul, the government troopers recovered explosives and two black flags similar to that being used by ISIS.

No other details were made available about the Malaysians, but sources have identified them as Mahmud bin Ahmad, Mohammad Najib and Mohammad Joraimi bin Awang Raimee who are believed to be members of the Darul Islam Sabah terrorist group.